A man who kicked a police officer to the ground has been told it is “highly likely” he will be jailed for the assault.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard on Friday how Brendan Lafferty (21) “overreacted” when he was stopped by officers on Main Street, Cowie, last Thursday morning.

Police had apparently initially been called out to a shop in the village and the officers had then gone on to speak to Lafferty.

His solicitor Virgil Crawford told the court: “He didn’t think that he did anything wrong in the shop but clearly overreacted to police officers taking an arm each.”

The court heard that the female police constable sustained grazes when she fell to the ground during the incident, which took place at around 11.15am.

Mr Crawford said that Lafferty was “intoxicated” at the time of the offences. He added: “He was drinking the night before and that morning.

“He realises that there is a difficulty with alcohol and he intends to speak to his general practitioner about that.”

The court also heard that Lafferty is currently the subject of a community payback order that had been “going fairly well” and that he had no other cases outstanding.

Lafferty, of Easterton Crescent, Cowie, who appeared from custody last Friday, pleaded guilty to charges of resisting arrest, assaulting the police constable by kicking her and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Considering the matter, Sheriff William Gilchrist first noted that Lafferty already had three previous convictions under the Police (Scotland) Act and called for reports to be prepared.

The sheriff added: “Unless the report is very persuasive a custodial sentence is highly likely.”

A move for bail was refused and Lafferty was remanded in custody for the necessary reports to be prepared. The case was then adjourned until June 19.